#ShareTheGift

Hola my dearest friends and family! So this week was a week full of surprises. Like the letters from Kelsey and Kylee Hurd and the packages from the Activity Day Girls and mom. Thanks, it was much appreciated. Or like Ruby. The typhoon did actually show up late Monday night so we couldn't go out. It was loud enough to keep me awake but not strong enough to rip anything but leaves off the trees. It's been really cool to hear all of the people here telling me how they know the storm weakening was an answer to thousands of prayer. I know that that is true. 

This week we also sent one of our amazing YSA to all of you in Utah. Elder Gonzales is heading to the Provo MTC and will be serving in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. They are lucky ducks! It was an interesting experience to talk to him about how he was feeling and to realize that the roller coaster of mission emotions starts and ends pretty much the same. I'm excited for him and a little bit jealous he's just starting out.

What I really wanna talk about though is Christmas. And presents. Who doesn't like presents? So listen up. This week I've started to use a new question in my OYMs. It goes like this: "Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birthday right?" "Right." "So what are you going to give Jesus' for his birthday?" And then they get a little embarrassed and giggle a little bit because they haven't really thought about it. But you think about it. How would you feel if it was YOUR birthday and every one brought presents for everyone else at the party, but no one brought anything for YOU? Remember that the Savior has given us the greatest gift that anyone could ever give with his atoning sacrifice, a way to find peace in a troubled world, and a way to return to our Heavenly home and live as families for all eternity. He is the Gift. 

Since this Christmas I'll be on the other side of the world and it would be kind of hard for you to get me something for Christmas, this is what I want instead.

1. Watch this video.

http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529 

2. Print this.

http://edge.mormoncdn.org/bc/static/pdf/eng/ShareTheGiftSign.pdf

3. Send me a pic of you and your gift :) 

This is also a test to see if you actually read these emails. I love ya all and am so grateful for all of your prayers and support! The best po kayo talaga! 

XOXO, Sister Brown

Elder Gonzales

Pinoy Sunsets

Labid Family

Sister Rita Catarining

Just Smile it off :)‏

Kamusta po kayo lahat? So first of all, I'm still alive. No worries. Just freezing. I am literally shivering while I type. On Thursday we were informed there was a Category 4 Super Typhoon the size of Typhoon Yolanda heading straight for Batangas. That's where I live. So we went out and bought enough food to last a week and filled every available container with clean water and then we waited. And waited. And waited. Until this morning. Ruby took so long to get here that she is now down to Category 1, which means it's raining and there's a nice breeze. We are actually a little disappointed, we were ready for an adventure! But I know that it was stronger in other parts of the Philippines and they could definitely use your prayers. I am thankful that all of the people here didn't have to experience the crazy stuff that happens in typhoons. 

Typhoon Ruby wasn't the only disappointment this week. At the beginning of the week, we had 6 people who were going to be baptized in the next couple of weeks. Somehow, we are now left with none. Thursday was a particularly rough day. Member after member bailed on us and we got later and later for our appointment and then our dear Bishop topped it off by calling us over and letting us have it about how we don't support the ward or the members because we didn't go to their activity (Because we were doing missionary work) and how he likes Filipina sisters better. Trials are plentiful here in San Jose. Luckily, I read a great talk by Elder Neil L. Anderson all about Trials of Faith at the beginning of this week. No matter what happens, it's nothing we can't handle. Alma and Moroni and Nephi went through way more than I ever will and they never lost hope. There are so many things to be happy about! Why allow ourselves to be disappointed? You just gotta smile it off.

Thus, I am thankful for the little miracles and blessings of each day. Like the little kids here and how everyone is always smiling, even in a typhoon. I love the Philippines. I love being a missionary. I love all of you and am so thankful for all of your support and love. 

XOXO, Sister Brown

Trunky trip

 

Kamusta na kayo peeps? Happy December! WHAT??? How did that even happen? This week was AWESOME. Why? Because we went on our trunky trip! That's when you and all the people that go home go to Manila for a couple of days and get fingerprinted and meet all kinds of cool people at immigration and you all talk about how you remember being on those very roads 17 months ago and what you thought about the Philippines, then vs now, and how you don't want to go home because who would've thought that 17 months later you would have come to love so perfectly and completely everything about the people and the culture and being a missionary. And you see that there's a Jamba Juice and an Ihop and a Wendy's in Manila and then you make a list of places you need to go when you get off the plane. But none of that was why this week was awesome. It was awesome because for the first time in 17 months, I set foot inside the temple. I can't really express to you how lucky you all are in Utah to have a temple at every turn. Walking inside, it was as if the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I felt so close to Heavenly Father and I couldn't stop smiling. I love the temple! If you haven't gone for awhile, go. If you can't go, do something about it so you can go. You NEED the temple.

There comes a time when all trunky trips must end though and
you return back to good old San Jose. And you have yet another Chooks-to-Go chicken for Thanksgiving dinner at 10pm. Only this time, you didn't hire the neighbors' kids to buy it for you... It was Sister Tzanis and Sister Cayacay's first Thanksgiving experience and they loved it! We all went around the table and said all the things we were thankful for and I think we all just realized just how blessed we were to be where we were doing what we were doing and for everything that got us to that point.

All of our investigators are doing great! We had 8 of them come to church yesterday! We have one new investigator, Jofal, and after we taught the Word of Wisdom he not only stopped drinking coffee but he went out and bought some fruit and vegetables so he could eat healthier! He's a gem :) However, my favorites are probably the Vilela's. I don't know why, but I just love them so much! Christian is 20 and he is a recent convert. He knows pretty much everything about the gospel and he works with us all the time. He is the reason the missionaries first went to his house. Long story short, he was studying but had to stop because his family was struggling financially and work instead. One night he switched shifts with someone. That was the night the hotel was robbed and he got shot in the head. He was the only one that survived and it was truly a miracle that he did. He believes it was so that he could be a missionary and share the gospel with others :) His family is super poor, but they are sooo magaling! His brother made the most beautiful  plan I've ever seen to follow the Word of Wisdom. We are teaching his mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, sister and younger brother. And each and every one of them has some huge trial to overcome. But I know that they can do it!

That's all for this week! Hope you have a great week and start thinking about the reason for the season. Love you all tons!

XOXO, Sister Brown

(Sometimes I wish she'd put captions...but maybe I don't want to know!)

Manila temple

Biggest mall in Asia

Second rainbow ever in the Pines!

Better than Thanksgiving‏

We are on the squa

Hey, how's it going? This has been a week of... well, not much. We got 2 new sisters in our house, we taught a whole bunch of people the gospel, and had a stake conference ALL about marriage and family. It was a good week. However, this week is going to be even better! Because it's Grandpa Fred's birthday, Uncle John's birthday, AND Thanksgiving this week! But even better than Thanksgiving, I AM GOING TO THE TEMPLE!!! Thus, I do not have time to reply to any of you so sorry. But only a little sorry. Because I am going to the temple.

So in honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a scripture I read this morning about gratitude in Alma 34:38.

38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

Last week I talked a little bit about some of the many trials and challenges our investigators were facing. I've faced my share of trials as a missionary as well. But the more I've thought about those trials, the more I realize that those many mercies and blessings that this verse talks about are actually those very trials. What would we be without trials? How would we ever become what our Savior needs us to be? I am the missionary and the person that I am because of the trials that I have faced in my life. I am thankful that my investigators have trials. That means they're going to be unbreakable when they get through them all. Heavenly Father is just helping them, and me, become. 

While you all are stuffing your faces with turkey and pumpkin pie, take a few moments to be grateful for the trials and challenges you've had in your life that have made you who you are. Thanks for being who you are and for all of your love and support.

Love ya! 

XOXO, Sister Brown

Maria Jean, called to serve in Urdaneta!

San Jose future Missionaries

Threesome

Root Beer Floats?!